Buses having a seating capacity of 12 passengers or more which are used to pick up and discharge worker passengers on the roadway shall be painted National School Bus Chrome Yellow and shall be equipped with either a red flashing four-light system or an amber and red flashing eight-light system. A bus equipped with the four-light system shall conform to the following specifications:

(1) Bus shall be equipped with two alternately flashing red lights on the front, at the upper left and right corners above the windshield; and two alternately flashing red lights on the back, at the upper left and right corners above the windows. Lights having a minimum of 7" diameter measured across the face of lens are strongly recommended.

(2) Each signal lamp shall be mounted with its axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

(3) Lamps shall be of a type approved by Transportation Safety and shall flash alternately at a rate of 60 to 120 cycles per minute.

(4) Lamp lenses shall be red in color as specified by current SAE standards.

(5) Lamps shall be controlled by a manually operated switch with a positive "off" and "on" position and mounted in such a position that the switch can be easily reached by the driver while seated in a normal driving position. Wiring of this switch through the ignition switch is not permitted. This shall be the only switch that controls the flashing warning lights. (Door switch or springloaded switch not permitted.)

(6) There shall be a visible means of giving a clear or unmistakable indication to the driver when the lamps are turned on. This visible indication shall be wired into the circuit so that it will flash when the warning lights flash and it shall be within the direct view of the driver when seated in a normal driving position, and shall have an illuminated area of at least 5/8" diameter.

(7) Area around lens of each alternately flashing red warning light and extending outward approximately 3" may be painted black. In installations where there is no flat vertical portion of body immediately surrounding entire lens of lamp, circular or square band of black approximately 3" wide immediately below and to both sides of lens, may be painted on body or background area against which signal lamp is seen.

A bus equipped with the eight-light system shall comply with the standards as adopted by the State Board of Education, March 1975, OAR 581-053-0517(23)(k), Lamps and Signals.

EXCEPTION: Worker transportation vehicles with a seating capacity of 12 or more which do not pick up or discharge on a roadway are not required to be equipped with flashing warning lights and are not required to be painted yellow.

(1) Class "A" and "B" vehicles shall be constructed or accommodated for transporting passengers, and shall be equipped with adequate seats and back rests firmly secured in place, and with such sides and ends as necessary to prevent persons from falling off the vehicle.

(2) Bus type vehicles having an enclosed seating compartment capacity of 12 or more workers, unless loaded from the rear, shall be provided with an emergency exit not less than 24 inches wide by not less than 48 inches high situated at the left side or rear of the vehicle. Doors shall be provided on bus type vehicles and shall be kept closed during transit and must operate freely at all times. They must be so constructed as to be easily opened from either inside or outside the vehicle.

Class "A" and "B" vehicles shall be provided with bodies and tops of sufficient strength to support the entire weight of the fully loaded vehicle on its top or side if overturned. Adequate means of escape and proper ventilation shall be provided.

Flatbed trucks, dump trucks, and pickups shall not be used to transport workers, except when the following conditions are complied with:

(1) Truck beds shall be adequately secured to the truck frame.

(2) Vehicles with tilting, sliding, or otherwise movable decks or bodies shall have decks or bodies secured in a manner to prevent accidental movement. Dump truck bodies shall be secured or the hoist lever locked.

(3) Flatbed vehicles, when provided with seats for the workers, shall be equipped with substantial sides not less than 42 inches high, secured to an end gate or the vehicle cab at the front end, and either with a 42 inch high end gate across the rear, secured to the vehicle sides, or with not less than three chains or ropes securely fastened across the back of the vehicle deck at the following approximate heights: the top rope or chain 42 inches high, the intermediate 28 inches high, and the bottom 14 inches high. Seats shall be firmly secured and no openings larger than six inches vertical shall be permitted in sides or in end gates.

(4) Flatbed vehicles not provided with seats shall be equipped with substantial sides and end gates not less than 24 inches high and workmen shall be required to sit on the floor.

EXCEPTION:

-1- If sides and end gates are not provided not more than four persons may be permitted to ride behind the truck cab and then only if substantial handholds are provided for their safety and they are required to use the handholds.

-2- Handholds may consist of

-a- a 3/4 inch or larger pipe secured to cab or cab guard,

-b- the top of the cab guard,

-c- slotted holes in cab guard,

-d- a wooden 2" x 4" bar secured to cab or cab guard.

-3- All handholds shall be of a convenient height. Workers under 16 years of age shall not be permitted to ride in this manner.

(5) Flatbed trucks on which more than four workers are required to stand shall have substantial sides and end gates not less than 48 inches high with no openings larger than six inches vertical. Sides and ends shall be secured as required in section (3) of this rule.

(6) Pickup and dump truck tailgates shall be closed and secured and workers shall sit on the floor unless seats firmly secured in place and substantial sides not less than 42 inches high are provided. A chain or rope shall be secured across the rear of such vehicles equipped with seats.

EXCEPTION: When workers are permitted to sit on low boxes or similar equipment, side rails which will increase height of pickup and dump truck bodies to not less than 36 inches shall be added with no openings larger than six inches. When heavy canvas is used as a top and sides and secured to the vehicle sides, the addition of side rails will not be required.

All Class "A" and "B" type vehicles equipped with seats of any kind shall be provided with an aisle (or passageway between seats) at least 12 inches in width leading to the emergency exit. Workers shall not sit on the floor in such aisles or passageways while the vehicle is in motion. Not more than one worker per row of seats shall be permitted to stand. No workers shall be permitted to stand or sit in the driver's compartment ahead of the front row of seats. Under no cir cumstances shall boards be placed across an aisle to provide additional seating space. Neither shall seats of any type be placed in an aisle. Substantial handholds shall be provided for standees.

(1) When workers being transported, in any class of vehicle, are required to stand during transit, those persons not provided with seats shall not be permitted to stand for more than one hour, or for a greater distance than 45 miles of vehicle travel, whichever is the lesser. A rest period of not less than 15 minutes shall be required before continuing trip unless those standing are given seats.

(2) Floor and decks shall be suitable for safe footing.

(3) All openings between enclosed passenger compartments and engine or exhaust at which fumes or gases may enter shall be effectively sealed.

(5) Floors and interior of sides and ends and tops of compartments used for transporting workers shall be free of inwardly protruding nails, screws, splinters, or other protruding objects which might cause injury.

(6) Whenever necessary to protect workers from inclement weather conditions, a top and facilities for closing the sides and ends shall be provided. Tarpaulins or other such removable protective devices shall be secured in place during transit.

Steps and handholds, when necessary for safe entrance and exit shall be provided on all vehicles used to transport workers.

NOTE: A portable ladder with steps not less than four inches wide and 16 inches long, not more than 12 inches apart, may be used provided ladder is equipped with hooks which will be attached to the truck body in a secure manner while in use. If stirrups are used they shall have the same width and spacing as required for ladders, but rungs may be used in place of steps.

(1) Four-wheel hydraulic brakes adequate to control the vehicle at all times when fully loaded and traveling at maximum speeds shall be provided unless the vehicle is equipped with a brake system of a superior type as approved by Transportation Safety.

(2) Auxiliary or emergency brake shall be provided in addition to service brake and shall be an entirely separate, mechanically operated device. It shall be adequate to hold vehicle stationary when fully loaded on any grade upon which vehicle may be operated.

(3) All new buses placed in service on and after the effective date of this Safety Code, the chassis of which is designed for any bus body of 36 or more workers, shall be equipped with full compressed air brakes, vacuum-actuated power or assistor type brakes, or compressed air-over-hydraulic brakes.

(a) Such installation shall be made by authorized representatives of chassis or brake manufacturer and shall conform to recommendation of that manufacturer.

(b) Hydraulic line pressure shall not exceed recommendation of chassis or brake manufacturer.

(c) Reservoir capacity shall be at least 1650 cubic inches for full compressed air systems, and at least 1000 cubic inches for vacuum-actuated systems and for compressed air-over-hydraulic system.

(d) Vehicles having full compressed air systems shall be equipped with:

(A) A safety valve mounted on first reservoir to protect air brake system against excessive air pressure and check valve located between source of supply and reservoir.

(B) Air gauge mounted on instrument panel to register air pressure in air brake system.

(C) Visible or audible low pressure indicator to warn driver if air pressure in air brake system falls below 60 pounds per square inch.

(e) Vehicles having vacuum-actuated or compressed air-over-hydraulic systems shall be equipped with check valve located between source of supply and reservoir.

(1) Every vehicle shall be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.

(2) Vehicles equipped with vertical exhaust pipes located ahead of passenger compartments or open bodies on which workers are transported shall be equipped with deflectors when necessary to prevent fumes from entering passenger-carrying portion of the vehicle. Exhaust pipes directed to rear of vehicles equipped with partially enclosed passenger compartments shall be equipped with deflectors which will direct exhaust fumes to one side to prevent hazardous fumes from being sucked into the passenger compartment.

(3) On buses and all other types of vehicles which have enclosed passenger compartments, the exhaust pipe, muffler, and tail pipe shall be outside the passenger compartment and attached to the chassis and the tail pipe shall extend at least to the rear bumper but not more than three inches beyond.

(4) The size of the tail pipe shall not be reduced after it leaves the muffler on any vehicle.

(5) Exhaust system shall be properly insulated from the gasoline tank and connections thereof by a metal shield at any point where there is 12 inches or less from the fuel tank or tank connections.

(3) No changes shall be made in steering apparatus which are not approved by the chassis or body manufacturer.

(4) There shall be a clearance of at least two inches between the steering wheel and the cowl, instrument panel, or any other surface and at least a distance of 21 inches measured from floor to bottom of steering wheel with a tolerance of one-half inch on all vehicles manufactured and placed in this service after the effective date of this Safety Code.

(5) Steering wheel shall be of a size recommended by the chassis manufacturer for the particular chassis.

All glass in a worker transportation vehicle must have no holes or cracks so severe as to cause the glass to deflect. Except the windshield, glass to each side of the driver and rear windows must be clear. The replacement of glass shall be with approved safety type.

The official copy of an Oregon Administrative Rule is
contained in the Administrative Order filed at the Archives Division,
800 Summer St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97310. Any discrepancies with the
published version are satisfied in favor of the Administrative Order.
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